New Year

BRING ON

I'm ready for it!

........ I think! haha

 

We spent our New Year's Eve making homemade laundry soap {well me anyways! I'm a real party gal huh? haha} and the sweet husband spent some time drawing and calculating ways to make special needs equipment affordable to other special need parents that can't afford the insanely high cost of simple equipment like a bench, tray or adjustable table. I totally fall more in love with him, have even more adoration and beam with pride when he wants to help others like this. His preliminary plans, figures and drawings look really promising and so I'm excited for him. He's already jetted off this mid-morning to go get the supplies to try his idea out!

 

In regards to my laundry soap? I'm super excited to try it today haha!!!

 

Man! I'm such a nerd! Ha! And one of the best parts? It cost pennies, you only have to use 1-2 tablespoons for typical loads and the recipe doesn't make suds in your washer, so you can use it in ANY washing machine!!!

 

There are many recipes out there, but I choose to try a powdered detergent {mainly because it was easier and faster to make!}, but here's what I used:

• 1 bar of Fels Naptha Soap finely grated
• 3 cups 20 Mule Team Borax
• 3 cups of Arm & Hammar Super Washing Soda (NOT baking soda!)

***I saw were that you might want to consider decreasing, maybe even perhaps eliminating fabric softener. I'll just have to do trial and error to see what I think personally. Also, for this type of concoction, people recommended to use 1 tablespoon (T) for light or small loads, 2T for normal loads and for heavy loads, use 3T or allow the clothes to soak in the soap mixture overnight inside the washing machine. Simple and CHEAP enough in my books!! :)


{I love the way the Naptha soap looks -- so bright and yellow! 
 I used the finest part of the grater and it really came out nicely.}

{After I grated the whole bar of Naptha, I added 3 cups each of the
two ingredients above, gave it a good mix and then put it
in a sealable container. Wallah! Easy right? I'm happy!}

Also, yesterday I spent a little bit of time reflecting on this past year, what are definites to come in this new year, what I would like to see happen or change, my hopes and goals for 2013 and of course excited for all the surprises {and again, hopefully they are wonderful, positive surprises} that will come along.

I decided to make a list of my goals which will be hanging in my bathroom as a daily reminder. And the key element to the goals? I thought of the "how" ... the "how" is equally important in my books because if you don't have a plan, you won't know where to start and almost guaranteed not to be successful! :)

Goals:

1. Rekindle my relationship with God by praying daily and earnestly for my family and friends, digging into His word each day and listening to sermons online {going to an actual church right now is very difficult for us}.
2. Rekindle my relationship with my hubby by talking and really listening to one another, less TV {and guess what that means, we both agreed to cancel our cable!}, more alone time and quality time together, more touching, more laughter, be respectful in our tone of voice, bring God back into the center of our relationship, be more understanding, more honest and loving. Just more more MORE of the good stuff! A couple's relationship often dramatically changes once you have kids, and when you're a couple that has a special needs child, its even more taxing because there is never a break, the rigorous routine never ends, there is so often no energy, no desire ... just simply nothing ... left over for your spouse, your friend, your lover ... and that has to change!
3. Invest more in Boogie's spiritual life instead of all my attention going towards her ability to communicate or her physical and cognitive development. It doesn't mean we will stop doing all her therapies and the normal things we do, but life is more important than having that type of tunnel vision. Jocelyn might not ever be able to met our worldly goals, but this life doesn't last long and I want her to know there is more to God's purpose and plan for her life. 
4. Get my passion and enthusiasm back for God, my husband, my daughter and the life we have been given.
5. Take care of my body for my family, for God and for myself by continuing to workout, get more sleep when possible, make better food choices and not overindulge.
6. Stop Cursing! Somewhere along the line after having Jocelyn, I've gradually allowed cursing back into my life. Its negatively affecting my thoughts and attitude, fueling anger and my perception on life in general.
7. Help my husband more with the family business by being eager, encouraging, do some independent learning so I am knowledgeable and can offer educated advice and opinions.
8. Learn to take pride and honor in every single thing I do as a wife, mother, friend, individual ... no matter if its the simplest of things ... and truly know that even though my life is in a place I never imagined ... that God has a purpose for me and my life right where I'm at and in every situation I, and we as a family, encounter.

I pray each and everyone of you are on your way to making this year absolutely spectacular!!!